Andrek Lowell's new Bentham Forest... will creep you out

Photographers are going to have a field day at Bentham. There simply isn't a Windlight preset that it doesn't look great in. It's those light rays...

This is one scary forest. I got so spooked at times, while walking around taking pics, that I could feel the little hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. In the interest of full disclosure, its creator, the hobbit Andrek Lowell, is a dear friend and also the creator of my own sim, Chakryn Forest.


The mushroom forest

"I hate this place," said Andrek, while we were standing in one particularly creepy area surrounded by glowing red eyes in the darkness. "It gets to me big time. Scared of my own creations... yeesh."


Andrek Lowell

A few weeks ago, Lauren Bentham commissioned Andrek to create Bentham Forest on a Homestead sim in Second Life®. She would later add several elements of her own, including the elder mushrooms, a shack and the lighted path to it, as well as sculptures by Pumpkin Tripsa and trees with eyes by lonetorus Habilis. Andrek included four of his super entertaining quests, as well as forest-appropriate gifts for visitors.


Dark passageway

What was your assignment?

Andrek Lowell: My assignment was to create a dark haunted forest. Her wording for it was a "dark version of Chakryn." My first reaction was, "eh..." mainly because Chakryn, light or dark, is still Chakryn, so I decided to go with a more themed version. I designed this project as a game for the mind. I tried my best to portray the feeling of unease, and dread, if not outright fear.

Did you spook yourself?

Andrek Lowell: Several times. I can barely stand going into a couple of the installations. I tweak and then port right the heck out.



The whole thing is 2,404 prims!

Andrek Lowell: About 400 - 600 of those aren't mine.

Did you do all in 3ds?

Andrek Lowell: All of this is done in Max yep, 'cept for the sounds. I did those using Audacity.

What is your favorite part?

Andrek Lowell: I particularly like the mushroom forest. I've been wanting to do something like that for a while. Other than that, I love the crystal caves. Um... there isn't much of this sim I don't like really.


Andrek Lowell standing in the crystal cave

How many quests are there? Are they difficult?

Andrek Lowell: I created four quests, using scripts by Desdemona Enfield. Two of them are pretty easy. Only one of them gives location hints. Hopefully they won't be as easy as Chakryn quests are. Two of the quests have three items to find, one has four items, and the last has five items. The quests feature items created by Lauren, as rewards for completion. I've also hidden five crates of goodies: small elements of the forest.

So, how much fun was this?

Andrek Lowell: It was hard to stop working, and I forgot to eat today, =).


The elder mushrooms - with the faces - are by the sim's owner, Lauren Bentham

What kind of forest would you like to make next?

Andrek Lowell: I want to make a new Chakryn Forest on Blue Mars, and also I've very much wanted to make mushrooms for a while. My hope is to one day create a hyper fantasy forest, where the rules of nature apply loosely, like they sorta do here: Giant things, odd things, lights that don't make sense but look neat, basically a fairy tale... large mushrooms, glittering trees, but with a warm, joyful, colorful setting.

Teleport to Bentham Forest directly from here.

See also:

• Andrek Lowell's Shadowaine Fell
• Chakryn Forest presents new works by Glyph Graves
• Chakryn Forest: Virtual nature by Andrek Lowell, or the real reason I still have a Second Life

How to view this forest: Do not count on seeing everything by camming or using your Space Navigator. Many smaller sculpties will not render. Turn up your sounds (not your music). The sounds alone are worth the trip! Look for the dark passageway, the crystal cave, the wicked red eyes...

Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties

Trinity Outlander sent in such a great collection of pics she'd taken at NPIRL's Halloween parties that I had a hard time choosing. In the end, I decided to show you her double-takes on four people and their avatars. Trinity, you rock.



Pandora Wrigglesworth in the new Ghostly Woman avatar of her own creation






Xand Nagy, on fire






Tuna Oddfellow, rockin' da house






Mathematical Wizard Gynoid in a Tunaverse setting with potentially psychotropic effects




For more pics of NPIRL's Halloween parties, see also:
* The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony
* The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties
* Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipoca Bisiani
* The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties: "Take Two" by Skycat Ranger
* Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom

Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom

I'm just lovin' Cyberloom's pics of the party people at NPIRL's Halloween fetes. She is also the author of a thoughtful and well-written blog about her virtual life experiences. Thanks for sending these in, Cyberloom!


Avatar creator Yoa Ogee switched his look so many times that we could devote a full spread just to him. I'm not even going to hazard a guess about the meaning behind this avatar


Bryn Oh was magnificent in this avatar, topped off with Hern Worsley's glowy headdress


Fire was a big theme at both of our parties, but only Aebleskiver Thibidaud's avatar had flamed wings that I know of


The friendliest and most helpful avatar I know, Jurin Juran merged Rush Gastel's glowy avatar with another, to uber-cute effect


Komuso Tokugawa always reads The Star when he's preparing to do a set, as photographed by Cyberloom

See also:
* The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony
* The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties
* Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipoca Bisiani
* The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties: "Take Two" by Skycat Ranger
* Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties

Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipoca Bisiani

Artist, writer and sometimes guest blogger here, Tezcatlipoca Bisiani, sent in these pics of some of the avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties that caught his eye.


Tezca didn't suit up for the parties... nope. Instead, he got real casssh as can be seen on the right. But who is the avatar in the Marie Antoinette "do"?


I can never keep a straight face when extreme explorer Naxos Loon is around, and this night was no exception.


Glyph Graves took a break after creating many of the special effects for the incredible roller coaster rides at Plasma Co. Mining Colony


I know that this ringing avatar's first name is Narita, but what is the surname?


Cube Republic has been awfully busy lately. Not only was he on the crew of builders for Plasma Co. Mining Colony - and I am fond of some of his sculptures there ;-) - he also DJed at NPIRL's Halloween party and has been leading the 5,000+ member-strong SOS (Save Our Openspaces) group. Who is the gentleman on the right?


To the left and barely visible, thomtrance O'toole knocked out tune after Goa trance tune at both of the parties. thom is my guru when it comes to exploring Opensims. On the right, award-winning Viennese artist and lecturer, MosMax Hax


That kitteh! Artist Sabine Stonebender just finished the first phase of rebuilding her Zero Point and I love it! That's me drifting in the air to the right, being witchy in Eln Alter's freebie witch avatar

See also:
* The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony
* The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties
* The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties: "Take Two" by Skycat Ranger
* Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom
* Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties

The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween Parties: "Take Two" provided by Skycat Ranger

Skycat Ranger is one of my fave photographers in Second Life®. Her work with brushes and filters simply rocks. Just look at some of Skycat's captures taken at the NPIRL Halloween parties!


Skycat showed up at the party with a huge mallet and looking like a jester. She got straight to work taking pic after great pic. This one captures a moment at Tuna Oddfellow's hallucinogenic Tunaverse show


Here's another of Skycat's views of Tuna Oddfellow's special NPIRL edition of his Tunaverse show at both of our parties


Madcow Cosmos morphed into many avatars all night and photographs of him poured in. He was one of the ten creators of Plasma Co. Mining Colony, too! I think you'll agree that this shot by Skycat gets 5 stars


Jurin Juran surprised me the day before Halloween by gifting me with this incredible avatar by Rush Gastel which I modified a tad


As with so many of the pics taken at the parties, I had a hard time figuring out who was who. In this shot by Skycat and from left to right, I recognize Scarp Godenot, Jurin Juran and Sidewinder Linden. But who was Alice and who was the faerie?


No one, and I do mean no one, can rock da house better than Komuso Tokugawa and his live boogie blues. From left to right, Skycat's shot includes: Komuso, Sasun Steinbeck, Bryn Oh and Eshi Otawara

See also:
* Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties
* Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom
* Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipca Bisiani
* The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties
* The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony

The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties

NPIRL's All Hallows Eve parties: Two of 'em; nine hours all told.
The guests: Not Possible IRL and Impossible IRL group members, and friends.
Location: Undisclosed until the last minute... the gleaming but abandoned Plasma Co. Mining Colony. Four sims provided by Rezzable and built out by a crack team of ten of the best builders and scripters on the grid. Read more about it here.
Our rock stars: Alexi Ayers, Anakin Gallacher, Cube Republic, Komuso Tokugawa, thomtrance O'toole, Tuna Oddfellow. Thank you!

Because so many of the avatars spotted at NPIRL's Halloween parties are not typically worn by our friends, we may have identified someone incorrectly. If you spot an error, please let us know and we'll fix it, asap.

The evening party began with a cocktail hour and Anakin Gallacher's live deep bliss sax tunes. Folks had time to rez each other and their new surroundings and take a ride on each of the two different roller coaster rides.


Browsing through my pics, I was unable to determine who the typist behind this avatar was, but we do know that he was wearing Pandora Wrigglesworth's Clockwork Automaton brain and skin


Hotspur O'Toole mimed his greeting


Jurin Juran and Eshi Otawara arrived at the same time


Photon Pink was responsible for making many of the cool sculpties at Plasma City

Meanwhile, on one of the dance floor areas...


Anakin Gallacher belted out a full set and a half, and his live music was streamed on all four sims


LittleToe Bartlett's avatar was so 'tweet!


Renown avatar creator Yoa Ogee wore a new and different avatar about every five minutes! And no, those aren't ants beneath him


Sasun Steinbeck was blinding in a modified version of Starax's Fallen Angel sculpture


Eln Alter arrived potted. Did you pick up her limited-time-only freebie witch avatar? To the left, Skycat Ranger as a jester was talking awesome pics which we'll be posting soon


Tom Bukowski got flowery

Coming up: Fabulous avatar pics sent in by talented photographers Cyberloom, Rowan Masala, Skycat Ranger, Tezcatlipoca Bisiani and Trinity Outlander...

See also:
* The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony
* The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties: "Take Two" by Skycat Ranger
* Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipca Bisiani
* Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom
* Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties

The setting for NPIRL's Halloween parties: Plasma Co. Mining Colony - The future that never was

And so it came to pass that the strangest and most exotic creatures of the metaverse descended upon the gleaming but abandoned ruins of the Plasma Co. Mining Colony in deep space to observe the ancient festival of Halloween. The members of the Not Possible IRL and Impossible IRL groups gather but once a year for such a fete.



Rarely seen outside of adventure comic books and mythical chronicles, the guests were - each of them - one-of-a-kind, all gorgeous and imagined in their own way, convening to shake a leg or an appendage or two or ten to the rocking-est tunes out there.

No one knows with any certainty what happened to the original inhabitants of Plasma City. Kitsune Kyomoon, credited with the re-discovery and its supervision today had this to say: "We are attempting to rebuild Plasma City to discover what went wrong, while hoping not to make the same mistakes ourselves."

The Plasma Co. crew:
Cube Republic - Structures, scenery
Glyph Graves - Structures, sculpties, sound
Judi Newall - PR, publicity
Kitsune Kyomoon - Project coordinator
Lorin Tone - Sound guru, structures, scenery
Madcow Cosmos - Structures, scenery, avatars
Miki Gymnast - Scripting, structures, scenery
Photon Pink - Sculptie guru, scenery
Seifert Surface - Structures, space consultant
Ordinal Malaprop - Rocket ride between worlds
Four sims provided by Rezzable Productions



"We do know that the Plasma Co. Mining Colony is the source of plasma, the energy source which fuels the city. After mining out our original operations on a smaller asteroid, we moved the mining operations to a much larger asteroid in a more remote section of space. Here, we have formed a community of miners, engineers, pirates, merchants, scientists, farmers, fugitives and space scum. We believe that, after abandoning the original mining operations, the former base was overrun with unknown creatures... drifting life-forms from across the galaxy," Kitsune continued.



Discover the Plasma Co. Mining Colony:

Many thanks to Rezzable Productions for unleashing the Plasma Co. crew on four full sims to create the future that never was.

* Miki Gymnast's Asteroid Coaster - teleport directly from here
* Roller Coaster # 2 - teleport directly from here



* Visit... inside of... it (brainwigs... ewwww) - teleport directly from here



So many great guests and their avatars! Such good music.


The parties may be over... but there is always next year!

Coming up... dozens of pics of the craziest, coolest avatars on the grid that night.

See also:
* The incredible avatars at the NPIRL Halloween parties: "Take Two" by Skycat Ranger
* Just press play: The rocking-est avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as seen by Tezcatlipca Bisiani
* The exotic and fun avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties
* Scene stealin' avatars at NPIRL's Halloween parties, as captured by Cyberloom
* Trinity Outlander's double-takes at the NPIRL Halloween parties

Eln Alter wishes everyone a Happy Halloween with one cool freebie avatar

It's here and you aren't ready for this, the most Not Possible in Real Life day of the year! Eln Alter has come to the rescue with a fabulous sculpted avatar that will be free for a limited time:



Eln Alter: I'm giving away a Witch for Halloween. If you are caught unawares, you can enjoy a good one by teleporting here.